The wind and snow howled, Kidomaru's spider silk was completely shattered by Naruto's Rasengan, Tayuya's Genjutsu music was precisely disrupted by Sakura's Chakra.
Jirobo's Earth Release was pierced by Kakashi's Lightning Blade, and Sakon's Parasitic Demon Destruction Technique was broken by Hinata's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
"Damn it... these guys..." Naruto gasped for breath, looking at the Sound Four, his eyes burning with resentment. "They were just stalling for time!"
Kakashi crouched down, checked the unconscious Sound Ninja, and frowned. "They deliberately lured us here; Sasuke is definitely far away now."
Hinata scanned her surroundings with her Byakugan, but the heavy snow limited her vision. "Completely... I can't find any trace of Sasuke-kun's Chakra."
Sakura clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. "Could it be... that I really can't catch up?"
Shikamaru said in a deep voice, "Their plan is very meticulous; they probably already arranged another route."
"No!" Naruto abruptly stood up, his eyes blazing with unwavering determination. "No matter where Sasuke, I will bring him back!"
Kakashi pressed down on his shoulder. "Naruto, calm down. Blindly chasing now will only lead to greater danger."
But--
"Let's go back to the palace first." Kakashi's voice left no room for doubt. "We need to revise our plan."
In the wind and snow, the figures of the Konoha members appeared particularly somber.
Meanwhile, Sasuke followed Kimimaro through the snowy valley and arrived at a secluded cave. The cave was dark and damp, with only a few torches flickering weakly.
"We've arrived, "Kimimaro stopped.
From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged—the red-haired girl, Guren, one of Orochimaru's most trusted subordinates and the user of the Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai.
"Sasuke-kun, I've long admired your name." Guren smiled slightly, a hint of scrutiny flashing in her eyes. "Lord Orochimaru has been waiting for you for a long time."
Sasuke stared at her coldly, offering no response.
Guren didn't mind and turned to walk deeper into the cave. "Follow me, there's a shortcut here to avoid our pursuers."
Kimimaro stepped aside. "Sasuke-kun, please."
Sasuke strode forward, his Sharingan gleaming faintly in the darkness. He knew that once he embarked on this path, there was no turning back.
In an underground base far from the Land of Snow, candlelight flickers in a dimly lit laboratory.
A silver-haired boy lay on a stone platform, his skin adorned with ice-crystal-like patterns—the very "War Weapon" that Kazahana Dōtō had modified using the bloodline and secret techniques of the Ice Clan, now serving as Orochimaru's new vessel.
"Hehehe..." A hoarse laugh echoed in the darkness. "This time, my body... is not bad."
Orochimaru slowly sat up, his golden snake eyes gleaming in the shadows, and a thin layer of frost forming on the ground.
"The bloodline of Ice Release? That's quite an experience."
However, when he tried to form the hand seals, a sharp pain shot through his hands—the seal of the Reaper Death Seal was still in place, and his soul remained bound.
"Hmph... Teacher Sarutobi, even in death he won't let me go." A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. "But it's alright..."
He slowly walked down the stone platform and put on a black robe.
"Sasuke-kun will be here soon... Those eyes might be the key to unlocking the seal."
Inside the Land of Snow's palace, Naruto stood alone by the window, gazing at the snowstorm outside, his fists clenched until they turned white.
"Sasuke... why...?"
Jiraiya walked up behind him and patted him on the shoulder. "Kid, don't blame yourself too much."
"The Pervy Sage..." Naruto lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "I said I would bring him back..."
Jiraiya sighed, "Sasuke has chosen his own path; forcibly stopping him will only make him more resistant."
"But Orochimaru-- "
"I know," Jiraiya's eyes sharpened, "But you are no match for Orochimaru right now."
Naruto suddenly looked up. "Then I'll become stronger! Strong enough to bring Sasuke back!"
Jiraiya looked at him and suddenly smiled, "Not bad. Well then... how about you come with me for some training?"
Naruto was taken aback. "Training?"
"Hmm." Jiraiya crossed his arms. "If you really want to get stronger, I can teach you some new things."
Naruto's eyes hardened. "Okay! I'll become stronger! And then--"
Five days later, Sasuke, along with Guren and Kimimaro, finally arrived at Orochimaru's base.
In the dimly lit hall, candlelight flickered, and a tall, slender figure stood with his back to them, his silver hair gleaming coldly in the dim light.
"Welcome, Sasuke-kun."
A familiar, hoarse voice rang out, and the person slowly turned around—
Golden snake eyes, pale skin, and a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Sasuke's Sharingan activated instantly, and he stared coldly at him. "Orochimaru... I'm here."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Very good... From today onwards, I will give you the power you desire."
Sasuke did not respond, but a dark determination burned in his eyes.
Footsteps echoed on the stone walls in the dimly lit corridor. Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his reflective glasses, a glint of something unfathomable flashing behind the lenses.
"Sasuke-kun, this way please."
Sasuke followed silently behind, his Sharingan gleaming faintly in the darkness.
His gaze remained fixed on Kabuto's back—the once gentle and refined medical-nin of the Chunin Ninja Exams, now exuding a chilling aura.
"Unexpectedly..." Sasuke suddenly spoke, his voice cold, "I'm not the only missing-nin from Konoha. You've been hiding your true colors quite well."
Kabuto paused slightly, then chuckled softly, "Missing-nin? That's not quite the right word." He turned half his face, the reflection from his glasses obscuring his eyes. "I've simply found... a truth more worthy of pursuit."
At the end of the corridor was a stone chamber, where the candlelight cast long shadows of the two people.
The moment Kabuto pushed open the door, Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply—hanging on the wall was a group photo of the Konoha members during the Chunin Ninja Exams. Kabuto stood inside the photo, smiling gently.
"Nostalgia is a bad habit." Kabuto noticed Sasuke's gaze, chuckled, and took down the photo frame. "But..." His fingers traced his reflection in the picture. "The disguise back then was indeed perfect."
Sasuke's Chakra began to surge restlessly. He recalled the image projected on the Heavenly Screen —the Sage Mode Kabuto, covered in snake scales and radiating terrifying Chakra. This was the person before him; he and that guy needed to team up to defeat him...
"Your room is at the very back." Kabuto suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "Lord Orochimaru instructed that you can tell me directly what you need." He pushed up his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Sasuke stared at him coldly. "No need."
"How indifferent." Dou smiled nonchalantly. "But..." His voice suddenly lowered, "I'm curious, after seeing those future scenes, why did you still choose to come here?"
The air froze instantly. Sasuke's Sharingan slowly rotated, the Mitsudomoe locking onto Kabuto's throat.
"Heh... don't be nervous." Kabuto raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "It's just academic curiosity." He turned and walked towards the door. "Get some rest, Sasuke-kun. You'll be very busy starting tomorrow."
The dull thud of the stone door closing echoed inside. Sasuke stood there, his fists clenching unconsciously.
At the same time, Dou stopped in his tracks outside the corridor.
"The Uchiha bloodline..." he murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "But... more important than that is completing that experiment."
His figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.
The next morning...
Sasuke suddenly opened his eyes and found a brand-new black training uniform on the bedside table. A note was on the uniform:
See you at the Training Ground. -- Dou
He grabbed his clothes, a dark glint flashing in his Sharingan. This game had only just begun.